Railroad cross-tie



(NoModeL) J. H". MEAOHAM RAILROADGROSS TIE. S No. 259,891. Patented June 20, 18-82;,

. WITNESSES: a INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. MEAOHAM, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD CROSS-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,891, dated June 2Q, 1882. Application filed February 9, 188-2. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMES HUGH MEAGHAM, of Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia,- have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad Cross-Ties; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention is an improvement in the class of iron railroad-ties having a flat base and vertical longitudinal web formed on the upper side of the latter.

The improvement is embodied in the construction and arrangement of .parts as herein after described and claimed, whereby Iproduce a tie having maximum lightness and strength and other qualities that confer additional advantages in manufacture and practical use.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tie with a fragment of a rail, which is shown applied in position for use. Fig. 2 is avertical cross-section. Fig. 3 is a side view of a fastening-bolt of modified construction. l

The cross-tic A has a broad, flat, rectangular base, a, and a vertical central longitudinal web or flange, b, on its upper side, so that in crosssection the tie has approximately the form of an inverted T. These parts a b are constructed as thin as consistent with the required strength of the tie.

Near each end-vertical flanges 0 project laterally on opposite sides of the web I), and a rectangular box, B, is formed at the junction of said parts to receive a wooden block, 0, that supports a rail, D. Such box or case B is cast in one piece with the body of the tie. Its edges rise on three sides to aboutthe height of the web I), but the fourth side is cutaway, as shown at l, to allow a pryingtool to be applied to-the side of the block 0, for the purpose of conveniently removingit when re- "quired. The rail D is secured by means of the two bolts E, that pass through block 0 and bottom of the box B, also through washers F, whose lateral flanges overlap and rest on the base of the rail, as shown. In place of using such washers, I may construct the bolt-head as shown in Fig. 3-that is to say, with a notch or recess on one side to receive the edge of the rail-flange.

The base a of the tie may be cut away in the middle, as shown in Fig. 1, the objects being not only to reduce the weight and cost of the tie, but chiefly to remove any liability of fracture of the tie in soft weather--that is to say, when the road-bed being wet becomes soft,

and hence yields readily to the great pressure imposed on the ties by passing trains. In such case, the ends of the tie sinking lower than the middle, it is subjected to a great strain at that point; butby dispensing with the base-flanges in the middle portion of the tie such portion will cut down into the road-bed in the case above mentioned, and thus the danger of breaking the tie will be avoided.

What I' claim isa The improved iron railroad-tie composed of the thin, flat, horizontal base-piece a, cut out in its middle portion, as described, the thin vertical web 1), extending the entire length of the base, the lateral vertical flanges c c, and the boxes B B, formed in one piece with said parts b c c at the intersection thereof, for receiving the wooden blocks 0, all as shown and hercinbefore set forth.

. JAMES HUGH MEAOHAM. Witnesses:

SAML. S'rEvENs, R. J. J. SPRALLEY. 

